Photos by Tom Rivers

CARLTON – Keeler Construction in Barre has been trucking big rocks to Lakeshore Road in Carlton, part of a project to build a strong breakwall and harden the shoreline from erosion and future flooding from Lake Ontario.

It is part of a $2 million resiliency project that is 95 percent funded by the state’s Lake Ontario Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative.

Construction started on the project last month. Keeler will be putting in big boulders along about 1,500 feet of the shoreline, going east from Route 98 in Point Breeze. The shoreline will also be regraded and will have a new vegetative cover to help stave off some erosion and damage from the waves.

Orleans County Legislator Ken DeRoller on Wednesday during the County Legislature meeting holds a ceremonial ground-breaking shovel for the Lakeshore Road project. The shovel was signed by Kathy Hochul, who attended the ground-breaking celebration on July 26 in her role as lieutenant governor. On Tuesday, she took office as governor following the resignation of Andrew Cuomo.

She signed the shovel, “We are REDI,” which stands for the Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative.

DeRoller on Wednesday afternoon presented the shovel to John Papponetti, the county DPW commissioner and engineer. He worked on some of the engineering for the project. He said he will keep the shovel in his office at the DPW on West Academy Street in Albion.

Sediment has built up since harbor last dredged in 2014

POINT BREEZE – Dean Marine & Excavating Inc. from Michigan is dredging the Oak Orchard Harbor today. The company started on the work Wednesday and the job is expected to take about three weeks.

The dredging barge is near the breakwall at the end of the Oak Orchard channel. The harbor last was dredged in August 2014, which it was done for the first time in 10 years.

Click here to see a video of the dredging this afternoon.

The state is funding the effort as part of the Lake Ontario Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative.

The scope of the project includes:

• Approximately 250 by 90 feet of the entrance channel will be dredged to a depth of 8 feet below low water and approximately 700 x 150 feet of the lake approach channel will be dredged to a depth of 7 feet below low water.
• Anticipated volume of dredging is up to 8,100 cubic yards.
• Sediment dredged from the channel will be placed in a defined area approximately 1,300 feet to the east of the entrance channel

The dredging is being done with mechanical means and the dredging fleet includes a barge, excavator, and two dump scows. One tugboat and one workboat will be used to support the overall operation. A turbidity curtain is positioned to enclose the dredge area.

Lynne Johnson, Orleans County Legislature chairwoman, said the dredging follows years of effort from the county and is part of regional dredging plan that includes many harbors on the south shore of Lake Ontario.

“As we look for ways to support and promote recreational activities along the shorelines of Lake Ontario, the dredging of Oak Orchard Harbor is vital to providing access to the over 400 boat slips and 6 launch lanes within the harbor,” Johnson said. “This project under taken by the Lake Ontario Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative demonstrates the commitment by the Governor to maintaining access to the navigable waterways that contribute to the success of the local fishing, boating and tourism activities within the Town of Carlton and Orleans County.”

Boating traffic can still use the harbor while the Oak Orchard is dredged the next three weeks.

The state has committed $15 million to have 20 harbors dredged on the southshore of Lake Ontario, including two sites in Orleans County. Besides the Oak Orchard Harbor at Point Breeze, sediment will be scooped out at Johnson Creek in Carlton near Lakeside Beach State Park.

Provided photo

CARLTON – A boat sunk overnight at the Orleans County Marine Park and leaked some fuel into the Oak Orchard River.

A spill response team from the state Department of Environmental Conservation will be on scene to help with the cleanup of what is described as a minor fuel spill by the Orleans County Emergency Management Office.

The Carlton Fire Department and Orleans County EMO deployed petroleum booms to contain the spill.

The owner of the boat’s insurance company has contacted a water recovery team in Rochester to get the boat out of the water. Once the boat is lifted up and the water pumped out, a cause for the boat’s sinking should be determined, said Dale Banker, EMO director for Orleans County.

Photos by Tom Rivers

POINT BREEZE – The Brick Band performs on Tuesday evening during a concert at the Orleans County Marine Park.

The band includes, from left: Dale Moor on lead guitar, Don Smith on drums, Ryan Klatt as lead singer and on guitar, and Steve Kennan on bass guitar.

Despite some heavy rains early in the concert around 5:30, about 100 people still attended the event which went until about 8:15 p.m. The Brick Band’s July concert had to be rescheduled due to rain. There was another washout last month and that concert by The Who Dats will be made up on Tuesday, Aug. 17, to close out the summer concert series at the Marine Park.

Ryan Klatt and the Brick Band perform “The Chair” by George Strait. The performed a number of well-known country songs.

The group is happy to be back performing at local festivals and concert series after Covid-19 restrictions wiped out most of last year’s schedule.

Dale Moor, the lead guitarist from Batavia, said the Brick Band was mostly limited to playing at campgrounds in 2020.

“There weren’t any festivals last year,” he said.

Tuesday’s concert crowd, despite smaller than usual, was energetic and danced to many of the songs.

“It’s good when you have a crowd like this,” Moor said.

Frank Panczyszyn of the Oak Orchard Neighborhood Association thanks the crowd for coming out for the concert despite the soggy conditions. The concerts typically draw about 400 people on Tuesday evenings.

Sailboats also race on Thursday evenings until Aug. 19

Photo by Ginny Kropf: Bob Hodgins, commodore of the Oak Orchard Yacht Club, and his wife Mary Lou stand in front of the sign at the Yacht club’s quarters on Archibald Road, Waterport. Since taking over as the 2021 commodore, Bob is working to promote good relationships with the community. They will host a chicken barbecue and open house for the community on Sept. 11.

WATERPORT – When Bob Hodgins took over as commodore of the Oak Orchard Yacht Club, one of the things he vowed to do was make the facility more welcoming to the community.

The Yacht Club has since invited the Oak Orchard Neighborhood Association to have a meeting there, welcomed a group of high school kids who couldn’t have a prom or graduation ceremony because of Covid and offered the facility for the initial meeting of Leadership Orleans Class of 2021.

His latest endeavor is to host an open house and chicken barbecue for the public on Sept. 11. Featured will be the club’s famous chicken barbecue or the regular menu in the restaurant.

Chicken barbecue can be ordered for takeout or pre-ordered online to be served in the restaurant – with full service on real dishes and real silverware, Hodgins said.

The bar and restaurant open at 5 p.m. and reservations must be made by logging on to the club’s website.  More information is available by calling (585) 305-6221.

In the afternoon the Corvair Club of Western New York will meet at the Yacht Club to show off their cars. Any member or guest who would like to drive a car to show it off may bring it along.

Photo by Tom Rivers: This group of boaters, including many with sailboats, were out June 30, 2016 in Lake Ontario near the Oak Orchard Harbor during one of the Thursday evening races.

In the clubhouse, tableside magic will be performed from 6 to 8 p.m., followed by live music by Fred DiCesare starting at 8 p.m.

Oak Orchard Yacht Club is actively seeking to grow its membership of both full and social members. Hodgins urges anyone interested to take this opportunity to come and visit the club, enjoy a great meal and entertainment and meet some of the members. Anyone wishing a personal tour of the club can contact them through their website.

Hodgins also wants the public to know about their regular races every Thursday evening throughout the summer. Their fleet consists of boats with a wide range of sizes, captained by a wide range of sailors. Some are very competitive and others are just out for the pleasure of sailing, Hodgins said.

The races are open to any sailboat which wants to join and have some fun. Their members’ boats are all measured and handicapped using the PHRF system. Anyone who wants to join in is welcome. If they do not have a PHRF rating, they cannot be officially scored against the rest of the fleet, but can still possibly earn some bragging rights by coming in ahead of the other boats.

Hodgins said crew are often needed and there are always opportunities to join a boat. He invites boaters to come out to sail with an experienced sailor and see how it’s done.

Anyone interested can contact the fleet captain Larry Travis by e-mail at larryt22@hotmail.com or by cell at (561) 846-2366 for racing instructions or help connecting to one of sailors to help with a race. All experience levels are welcome.

Races start at 6:30 p.m. just outside the harbor walls to the west. Races run through Aug. 19.

State paying 95 percent, part of REDI erosion and flood protection projects

Photos by Tom Rivers: Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul said the project will protect an important road in the community, ensuring access for residents and visitors. It’s part of $300 million in projects along the south shore of Lake Ontario to make the shoreline more resilient to flooding and erosion in the future.

CARLTON – The shoreline along Lakeshore Road in Carlton was chewed away in 2017 and 2019 when there was flooding and erosion from very high lake levels.

The loss of land and soil has put the lake closer to the road, within about 15 feet in some spots. About 1,500 feet of the shoreline, going east from Route 98 in Point Breeze, will soon be fortified with massive rocks. The shoreline will also be regraded and will have a new vegetative cover to help stave off some erosion and damage from the waves. (The threat of flooding isn’t an issue right now with the water levels down about 3 feet from the highs in 2019.)

The $2 million project is 95 percent funded by the state. It is part of $300 million the state is spending through the Lake Ontario Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative (REDI).

A contingent of local and state officials, including Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, celebrated the start of the project’s construction today.

Hochul recalled the damaging flooding in 2017 and 2019, that ate away at backyards, roads and the shoreline. She was at Kendall on May 11, 2017, helping stack sandbags with the National Guard.

“This is a real hazardous situation with the road and infrastructure,” Hochul said about an encroaching lake during a time of high water levels. “When this project is done the residents won’t have to worry.”

Keeler Construction in Barre submitted the low bid of $1,321,858 to install the new breakwall. There are other costs for engineering and construction services.

Tim Walsh, DEC regional director, said that wall of rock will harden the shoreline. The new vegetation also is part of a softer and “greener solution” to protecting the shoreline, Walsh said.

Lynne Johnson, Orleans County Legislature chairwoman, speaks during a ground-breaking today for a $2 million breakwall project along Lakeshore Road in Carlton.

Lynne Johnson, County Legislature chairwoman, thanked Gov. Andrew Cuomo for pushing for the funding for the shoreline communities, and for the REDI Commission for pushing through the projects during the Covid pandemic.

Johnson said the local and regional government officials spent many hours evaluating the damage, and developing projects to be considered by the REDI Commission.

“This is an example of what a true partnership looks like,” Johnson said. “And it is an example of what can be achieved when everyone comes together for the common good.”

Local officials join for a ceremonial ground-breaking this afternoon along Lakeshore Road. Pictured from left include Tim Walsh, DEC regional administrator; Jayleen Carney, representing Assemblyman Steve Hawley; County Legislator Fred Miller; Gayle Ashbery, Carlton town supervisor; Lynne Johnson, County Legislature chairwoman; County Legislator Bill Eick (barely visible in back); Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul; County Legislator Ken DeRoller; John Papponetti, Orleans County DPW superintendent; and County Legislator John DeFillipps.

The REDI projects total $17 million in Orleans County. The projects will improve public land and infrastructure, including roads, a new sewer system in Kendall and Hamlin, and an improved Yates Town Park.

The local projects include:

• Wastewater Infrastructure for Kendall and Hamlin, $9,053,000 – This project will disconnect homes from the septic systems and connect them to a wastewater system. A privately owned facility (located at Troutburg in the Town of Kendall) will be turned over to the Town of Kendall, and approximately 125 residences in the towns of Hamlin and Kendall will be connected to the facility. The project will solve the problems for lakeside residences with septic issues west of West Kendall Drive, including along Lomond Shore West, Edrose Shore, Knapp Shore, Thompson Drive, and near Lakeland Beach Road and Bald Eagle Drive in the Town of Kendall, plus residences near Beachwood Park Road in the Town of Hamlin. This project will connect these areas to a sanitary sewer and convey wastewater to a treatment facility.
• Yates Town Park, $2,531,000 – The Town of Yates plans to expand the town park with enhanced recreational and water access opportunities. This project seeks to further enhance the park’s environmental resiliency, protect and expand its natural and nature-based features, and increase public access to the area’s recreational resources.
• Public Town Road Ends/Culverts in Kendall, $1,500,000 – Culverts adjacent to Ed Rose Shore, Knapp Shore, and Thompson Drive are impacted by high water levels resulting in culvert ends being clogged with debris. This project adds a more resilient box culvert concept. A culvert located at Lakeland Beach Road needs fortification, and riprap will be placed at the outlet of the culvert to provide protection.
• Point Breeze Boat Launch in Carlton, $751,000 – The project will start after Labor Day. It will replace fixed elevation docks with floating docks and slips, inclusive of anchorage and posts to permit only vertical dock movement.
• Lakeside Park Road East in Carlton, $385,000 – The bluff on which the eastern portion of Lakeside Park Road sits has been experiencing erosional impacts, creating a 30 to 40 foot drop that has become a hazardous condition for the road and public water line in the area. The project will protect the toe of the bluff with shoreline stabilization.
• Lakeside Park Road West in Carlton, $235,000 – The shoreline on which Lakeside Park Road sits has been experiencing flooding impacts from both Johnson Creek and Lake Ontario, including the loss of an access road/lane, land protecting homes, and public water lines. West of the intersection with Lakeside Road there is approximately 300 feet of public water line at risk of being exposed and compromised. The project will construct an access road to place protective materials along the shoreline, and add riprap stone to protect the public water line during future high water level.
• Thompson Drive turnaround changed to beach access in Kendall, $131,000 – The former Thompson Drive turnaround provides beach access to the Lake Ontario shoreline. There is an opportunity to turn the former turnaround into beach access, coupled with nature-based shoreline protection. The project will reduce shoreline erosion, protecting local infrastructure and maintaining access along the route.
• Route 237 right-of-way in Kendall, $40,000 – The shoreline/waterfront area along the Route 237 right-of-way is experiencing significant erosion as a result of high water levels, flooding, and wave intensity. A project is currently ongoing to install riprap along the waterfront to protect the eroding shoreline associated with the right-of-way, abutting the riprap of two neighboring private properties. This project adds a berm to further stabilize the shoreline and protect the area from future flooding. It also fills the gap between existing shoreline protection features with additional shoreline protection.
• Installing markers on submerged structures in Orleans and Niagara, $50,000 – In-lake structures throughout Niagara and Orleans counties, when underwater, may result in hazardous boating conditions. Installing temporary safety markers is a proactive approach to protect public safety. This project will install safety markers on submerged structures (piers). The structures will be clearly marked by installing temporary warning buoys.

Orleans County Legislator Ken DeRoller holds a shovel signed by Kathy Hochul after today’s groundbreaking. “We are REDI,” Hochul wrote.

Photos by Tom Rivers

CARLTON – The Dave Viterna Group performs Tuesday evening at the Orleans County Marine Park to kick off the summer concert series. This was the first concert in nearly two years at the Marine Park after last year’s slate of performances was cancelled due to Covid-19 concerns.

Dave Viterna is the lead singer and guitar player for the band, which includes “Scooter” Scott Felice on drums and Marty Hobbs on guitar.

The band plays blues and rock music. In this photo they are playing a song by Stevie Ray Vaughan.

The crowd was spread out on the rolling hills in front of the pavilion.

This is the 11^thseason of concerts organized by the Oak Orchard Neighborhood Association in partnership with the Orleans County Tourism Department. There is a $2 admission charge per person or $5 per family.

The Clarendon Lions Club served hot dogs and hamburgers from the grill. Kevin Johnson, right, tended to the grill and Brian Collins was the “runner” taking the hot dogs and hamburgers to people in line. Johnson said it was a busy opening night for the Lions Club, which had many of its fundraisers sidelined in the Covid-19 pandemic.

Dave Viterna and Marty Hobbs had the crowd rocking on Tuesday evening at the Marine Park.

The lineup for the rest of the series at the Marine Park includes: Highway 31 (July 6), The Who Dats (July 13), the Brick Band (July 20), Trellis Cooper Band (July 27) and Jonesie & the Cruisers (Aug 3). Rain dates are scheduled for August 10 and 17.

Club with 100 members aims to make organization more community friendly

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Oak Orchard Yacht Club members Paul Gray and Bob Frost, both past commodores, wait to raise the American and Canadian flags during ceremonies Saturday to celebrate opening of the summer boating season.

WATERPORT – Like all social organizations, the Oak Orchard Yacht Club has gone through changes.

If the new commodore, Bob Hodgins of Batavia, has his way, he’d like to see a lot more changes taking place this year – most of all, making it a more community-friendly club.

“One of the things we recognize is there is a perception of the Yacht Club as being stand-offish,” Hodgins said. “We want to change that. We have a board of 11 and they are a great group. They are like-minded and work together.”

Hodgins pointed out the sign in the front yard of the Yacht Club which reads “Members and guests only.” He has changed that by adding signs saying, “Memberships available. Docks available,” hoping to send a more welcoming message.

“We’ve got a wonderful facility here, and we’re trying to make better use of it,” Hodgins said. “Chap’s Diner in Elba runs the restaurant and bar, which is open on Friday and Saturdays from May through September.”

The Yacht Club recently invited the Oak Orchard Neighborhood Association to have their annual meeting there.

“This was a good experience,” Hodgins said. “They are our neighbors, and many had never been here before.”

He said they also recently had a pseudo-senior prom for kids who missed out on their senior prom last year due to Covid. He said it was a wonderful event, with kids coming from all over, including New Jersey and Delaware.

They have invited Leadership Orleans 2021 to have a meeting at the Yacht Club on July 8.

“This is a great opportunity to bring young community leaders into our club,” Hodgins said.

Hodgins is also working on having an open house at the Yacht Club for different segments of the population, possibly with a chicken barbecue and music, which would be open to the public.

Officers of the Oak Orchard Yacht Club stand for the Pledge of Allegiance during open ceremonies signifying opening of the boating season. Commodore Bob Hodgins is second from left.

“This is a club developed and kept up by its members,” said Hodgins wife, Mary Lu.

OOYC welcomes both social and full members. Social members have the privilege of visiting the club and enjoying the amenities of the dining room and bar. Full membership is for boaters and includes a dock. Anyone wishing more information on becoming a member on either level may contact Hodgins at (585) 409-9869.

OOYC, which currently has 100 members, was founded in 1938 and began operation at the current site of the public boat launch on the east side of Oak Orchard River, near the harbor mouth at Point Breeze. Club activities centered on cruising, both sail and power, and an active one-design racing program.

In the early 1970s, New York state cast a covetous eye on the old site and began the push to the club’s current location on the west side of the river, about a mile upstream. During this time, members faced the herculean task of arranging funding, getting permits and the construction of the current yacht club. It was then that the tradition of being a “working” club was really cemented. Capital was secured not only by mortgage, but also by members contracting for their docks for 10 years in the future. With funds in hand, the membership spent the winter of 1972 on the ice constructing the docks. The clubhouse was also built entirely by volunteer labor. Only the main structural parts were contracted out.

The years since have seen gradual improvement to the facilities and expansion of services to members. In the early 1980s, additional land was purchased on the west side of the road to provide a buffer between the club and increasing residential surroundings.

According to their website, the club is now in the fortunate position of enjoying a debt-free facility in a beautiful location. Their vision for the future is to continue to maintain and improve on the physical structure and to stay true to the yachting traditions of all who gave so much personal effort to create what they enjoy today.

Jeff Plummer of Waterport steps away from the miniature cannon, which he fired three times to signify opening of the boating season at Oak Orchard Yacht Club on Saturday night.

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Bob and Mary Lu Hodgins, who started the first sailing classes 32 years ago, stand in front of the Oak Orchard Yacht Club, where he is commodore.

WATERPORT – The couple who started the first sailing classes at the Oak Orchard Yacht Club say they have literally raised their kids here. It would be safe to say boating is in Bob and Mary Lu Hodgins blood.

The Batavia couple first joined the Yacht Club 35 years ago, and 32 years ago they started the youth sailing classes.

This year, Bob is commodore, and he and Mary Lu are thrilled to see the classes still an important part of the yacht club’s sailing program. The two oldest of their three children were in the first class and then went on to become instructors. This year, Bob and Mary Lu’s grandchildren will be in the class, which starts July 2.

Oak Orchard Yacht Club commodore Bob Hodgins and his wife Mary Lu sit in the fly bridge he constructed in the playground for children to enjoy.

“These are the first second-generation students in the program,” Bob said. “We are thrilled.”

The Hodgins’ son Ken and his wife have two boys and live in St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands, where he is a boat captain.

“I was introduced to sailing as a child, first in a rented Sunfish on a family vacation, and then my dad bought an old wooden Lightning sailboat which provided years of fun for my parents and all six of us kids,” Bob said. “I bought my first sailboard, a homemade plywood boat, when I was single and 20 years old. I had visions of sailing to faraway places, and over the past 45 years, I have been fortunate to be able to do that.”

The Hodgins started the sailing program so many years ago because they recognized the need to involve children and families in the yacht club, Bob said.

“Children need their own activities and the ability to form their own group of friends, in an environment that is safe and positive,” he said. “For the yacht club to have a playground and activities for children is essential to the future of the organization.”

Bob said the sailing program starting from nothing and took a few years to build.

“We had to raise funds, buy fleets of boats, hire and train instructors and get the club members to agree to support the program,” Bob said. “After 32 years of the program, we have had hundreds of kids learn to sail, but more importantly, they have formed their own lifelong friendships and been introduced to a sport that is an active, healthy lifestyle.”

Young people from age 9 through high school are eligible to enroll in the sailing classes. The program this year is run by John Zimmerman of Medina. Information can be found on the Oak Orchard Yacht Club website, where enrollment can also be completed.

Students in the class learn how to rig a sailboat, how to solo in a small sailboat with both a mainsail and a jib, rules of the “road” while boating, basic race skills and safety rules for sailboats.

For the Hodgins family, sailing has been a way of life. They had a boat at OOYC for 26 years before leaving in 2008 to sail the Caribbean. They sold that boat and bought another ocean boat to sail across the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. They once spent an entire year sailing, home schooling their children on the boat, Mary Lu said.

Last year, they sold their ocean-going sailboat in New Zealand. They had bought another sailboat for Oak Orchard River three years ago, and in January this year bought a power boat in January, which they took to South Florida for the winter.

Photos by Tom Rivers

POINT BREEEZE – The Oak Orchard Neighborhood Association last month installed a Little Free Library at Point Breeze. These are spots where people are welcome to give and take books.

The group considered putting the little library at the Orleans County Marine Park, but decided to have it at Point Breeze which has more visitors.

The little library was painted by OONA President Chris Manaseri in a similar style as the Oak Orchard Lighthouse. JoAnne Camann pushed to have a Little Free Library at Point Breeze. OONA used an existing post for a sign that had weathered and been removed.

Manaseri, a retired English teacher and school superintendent, also volunteers as a docent at the Oak Orchard Lighthouse Museum. On Sunday, when he wasn’t chatting with people checking out the lighthouse, he worked on an oil painting of the site, including a birdhouse to the left of the lighthouse.

The Museum has docents at the lighthouse on Friday evenings, Saturdays and Sundays.

The lighthouse was constructed in 2010, after $200,000 was raised from the community. The state also provided assistance with the project.

The 35-foot lighthouse is a replica to one that toppled in 1916 after a storm. The Oak Orchard Lighthouse has become an iconic symbol for Orleans County and the Point. It is often featured on the cover of the county’s tourism guide.

Manaseri painted in the plein air style, where artists paint outdoors.

Manaseri said he enjoys getting to know people at the Point. But when there is a lull, he likes to grab his paintbrush and work on a painting.

“I don’t like to sit still,” he said.